The Fourth and Seventh Concubines’ eyes flickered with confusion.
The Seventh Concubine had only recently arrived at the Song manor and truly didn't know what she had done wrong. She could only open her mouth helplessly, then didn't know what else to say.
The Fourth Concubine's eyes darted about, a thousand thoughts flashing through her mind, ultimately settling into a look of grievance.
She slightly raised the corners of her eyes and looked pitifully at the Old Madam, "Old Madam, this concubine... does not know what wrong she has committed. Please, Old Madam, enlighten me."
However, the Old Madam paid no attention to her, merely looking at the Seventh Concubine, "You, do you know what wrong you have done?"
The Seventh Concubine lowered her head and shook it repeatedly, not daring to glance at the Old Madam.
The Old Madam snorted coldly, "Firstly, in the absence of the manor's matriarch, you incited the master to bring you into the household. This is a woman's lack of virtue. Do you admit it?"
As she spoke, the First Madam standing beside her puffed out her chest slightly.
The Seventh Concubine knew that what she had done was against the rules and did not dare to raise her head to argue.
The Old Madam continued, "Secondly, after entering the manor, you neither came to offer tea to me nor went to pay respects to the First Madam. Lord Song said it was because you were weak, and he permitted you to recuperate before observing the morning and evening rituals. But do you think you are the matriarch of this household, or a young lady?"
The Old Madam spoke slowly, yet every word seemed to pierce the Seventh Concubine's heart.
Song Chaoyu could see that this Seventh Concubine was not a truly wicked person. She was also a girl from a respectable family chosen by the Old Madam for Song Yuan. At least, she likely did not harbor overly wicked intentions at present.
It was good to discipline her now. Perhaps the Old Madam felt she had been "too lenient" with the concubines after the incident with the Sixth Concubine.
With the Old Madam acting this way, what else could the Seventh Concubine do?
She wept as if caught in a pear blossom storm, trembling and hastily kowtowing to the Old Madam, "This concubine dares not do so again! I beg the Old Madam for forgiveness, this concubine dares not do so again!"
At this moment, Song Yuan was still doting on this Seventh Concubine.
He also stepped forward, smiling apologetically at the Old Madam, "Mother, this is all my fault. Look..."
"You too, kneel down!"
Unexpectedly, this time the Old Madam did not spare Song Yuan's feelings, sternly saying to him, "For the past two years, I have rarely spoken to you about these matters. Do you think you have no sense of them?!"
Song Yuan was stunned and naturally resisted, "Mother, your child is still here. You want me to kneel?"
"What? Can't you kneel?!"
The Old Madam's gaze was firm as she stared at Song Yuan, "In the past two years, how many incidents have occurred in the manor? Do you, as the master, bear no responsibility?!"
Seeing that the Old Madam was truly angry, Song Yuan, though unwilling, still knelt before her.
The Old Madam snorted coldly at him, "If you wish for harmony among your wives and concubines, and filial piety from your children, should you, as a father and husband, not set an example? But look, in the past two years, have you managed any of the household affairs? Regarding the Second Daughter's matter, the Third Daughter's matter, they can now make their own decisions, can't they? This courtyard is a mess. If it weren't for the Fourth Daughter, your own son Yang Ge'er's affairs, you would still be kept in the dark, wouldn't you? How have you been as a father?!"
She patted the table beside her, "How long has Qing Ge'er been ill? What have you been doing? Don't tell me you're busy with outside matters. Qing Ge'er is also your son! You don't care at all. Do you still have the demeanor of a father?"
"Yes, your son knows his mistake."
Song Yuan had nothing to refute regarding this matter.
After the Old Madam and her entourage left, he had focused entirely on this new Seventh Concubine. Although he visited Qing Ge'er daily, he truly wasn't attentive.
Song Yuan knew he was wrong, but Song Chaoyu noticed that the Fourth Concubine was acting strangely.
She knew her grandmother's intentions, so she had been paying attention to the Fourth Concubine from the beginning.
She had knelt down with the Seventh Concubine. When the Old Madam had ignored her earlier, she had felt a moment of tension, but upon hearing the Old Madam scolding the Seventh Concubine, she quickly relaxed.
But now, when the Old Madam suddenly mentioned Qing Ge'er's illness, although the Fourth Concubine showed no outward reaction, her hand was tightly clenching her handkerchief at her side.
Perhaps this gesture was just a subconscious instinct, but Song Chaoyu saw it.
Song Yuan bowed his head to admit his mistake, and the Old Madam naturally would not punish him severely.
Instead, the Old Madam looked at the First Madam, who was standing by watching the "show," "And you, why aren't you kneeling?!"
The First Madam did not expect to have a problem herself. She looked at the Old Madam in surprise, "Mother... I have been with you all this time!"
"Kneel!"
The Old Madam did not want to hear her excuses and said even more sternly, "So what? Is this your reason for not managing this small Song manor well?! When the Fourth Daughter and Concubine Liu returned, there were many things I didn't want to say much about. Letting you gain experience was fine, but look what has become of it? Qing Ge'er almost didn't make it. Is this what a matriarch should do?"
The First Madam also knelt down. Although she didn't understand why the Old Madam was angry even with her, she did not dare to provoke her.
The Old Madam then recounted things to her one by one, "The Second Daughter's matter was said to be because of that girl Song Xiuxiu, but you know the real reason better than I do. Your mother and daughter have never had the same intentions as the family! I won't say anything about aiming for the position of the Princess of Ning. She is married, the matter is settled, and Yang Ge'er has woken up. I thought you would finally be able to put your heart at ease and focus on the Song family, right? But what about you?!"
The First Madam lowered her head. The Old Madam continued, "The Third Daughter's matter, I have always wanted to talk to you about. Seeing you distracted these days, I couldn't be bothered. Now that a Seventh Concubine has entered the manor, you are only concerned with your own dignity as the First Madam. After returning, let me ask you, Qing Ge'er has been ill for so long, have you visited him even once? Have you even cared to ask about him?"
Even if she was unwilling, these were the duties of her position as the First Madam.
It was her fault, and she naturally had to bear the Old Madam's anger.
The First Madam could only keep apologizing, "Mother, I was wrong! That's not what I meant, I just—"
"Enough."
The Old Madam interrupted the First Madam, "What's the use of saying these things now? I see you all, do you not wish for this Song family to prosper?!"
At this moment, everyone also realized that the Old Madam had yet to speak about the Fourth Concubine and Concubine Liu.
However, the difference was that Concubine Liu was standing beside the Old Madam, while the Fourth Concubine was kneeling on the ground.
Even the First Madam felt that there was nothing wrong to be said about Concubine Liu.